To tell or not to tell ?

[Tom98915]

I keep a separate ID wallet in my shirt pocket that holds only my permit and drivers license, each with it's own window. When I'm asked I simply show that. Got asked a few times I was carrying to which I answered yes, but the LEOs in various counties never made an issue of it since I was always courteous, calm and polite.

I work around a lot of LEOs and they know I carry when I am not at work anyway,so not much worry there.

[calex59]

I am armed.......do I say anything ?

No, you don't. Never tell a Leo you are armed unless the situation is critical and they might need your help, which is to say, never. I was told by my instructor when I got my first CCW, don't ever volunteer the info you are armed because you will regret it when some super cop throws you to the ground and arrests you. My advice is save it for when, hopefully never, you are searched.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by calex59

No, you don't. Never tell a Leo you are armed unless the situation is critical and they might need your help, which is to say, never. I was told by my instructor when I got my first CCW, don't ever volunteer the info you are armed because you will regret it when some super cop throws you to the ground and arrests you. My advice is save it for when, hopefully never, you are searched.

Your answer is incorrect for Orange County specifically (and probably others), where it is a REQUIREMENT of the CCW to notify LEO of the fact upon contact.

As a policy, it is usually a GOOD thing to give them the heads up. Your instructor wouldn't make friends with LEOs. (there are several on this board)

[CCWInstructor]

Notify by giving them your CDL and CCW. Don't ever TELL them. You will be on the ground at the bottom of the dog pile.

[akulahawk]

Yeah... there's this little 3 letter word that would trigger that dog-pile response... you'd be good to avoid it.

[Idaho Joe]

Hmmm.... I have two LEO friends in CA. Both active duty. CHP and City Officer in a city north of San Francisco.

Both will tell you that they appreciate it when someone informs them that they are CCW holders. Few are the LEO's that consider CCW holders the bad guys!

[1buba]

Originally Posted by CCWInstructor

Notify by giving them your CDL and CCW. Don't ever TELL them. You will be on the ground at the bottom of the dog pile.

Sorry - i should have said that MUCH clearer.

[calex59]

Originally Posted by 1buba

Sorry - i should have said that MUCH clearer.

One, thanks for all the replys that imply that I am an idiot, I always greatly appreciate people(usually my junior in years and experience)telling me what a dumb a** I am. However, the reason you never tell a LEO you are carrying, unless the county that issued your CCW requires it, is because it is none of his business. Is he going to search you? Not unless he has a warrent. Why does he need to know.

You are going to be on your way in a few minutes, there is no reason, unless you like being hassled and possibly shot, to let the LEO know you have a permit and are packing. Why does he need to know? You are law abiding, correct? If you weren't you wouldn't have applied for a CCW, you would just carry regardless. Being a law abiding citizen you have no intention of harming said LEO, therefore, under our constitution, he has no need to know if you are packing. If he ask you then, yes, you tell him, but 99.9 percent of the time he will not ask, therefore, (unless you are required by your issuing authority to say) do not tell him, period.

Any LEOs on these threads that take exception to this advice, and it is only advice not word of law, then I must conclude that you are control freaks who think that every law abiding citizen must bow and scrape before you and genuflect to the god of government. Real LEOs, and they are few and far between, don't care if you disclose, because law abiding citizens won't kill them but criminals will. Criminals will never disclose and they will not have CCWs.

To those of you who have said that LEOs don't get carried away when confronted with an armed citizen must live in some state other than CA, because here, many of them do. Lots of LEOs think armed citizens are OK, many also do not think that way.

[JandJDude]

Originally Posted by calex59

One, thanks for all the replys that imply that I am an idiot, I always greatly appreciate people(usually my junior in years and experience)telling me what a dumb a** I am. However, the reason you never tell a LEO you are carrying, unless the county that issued your CCW requires it, is because it is none of his business. Is he going to search you? Not unless he has a warrent. Why does he need to know.

You are going to be on your way in a few minutes, there is no reason, unless you like being hassled and possibly shot, to let the LEO know you have a permit and are packing. Why does he need to know? You are law abiding, correct? If you weren't you wouldn't have applied for a CCW, you would just carry regardless. Being a law abiding citizen you have no intention of harming said LEO, therefore, under our constitution, he has no need to know if you are packing. If he ask you then, yes, you tell him, but 99.9 percent of the time he will not ask, therefore, (unless you are required by your issuing authority to say) do not tell him, period.

Any LEOs on these threads that take exception to this advice, and it is only advice not word of law, then I must conclude that you are control freaks who think that every law abiding citizen must bow and scrape before you and genuflect to the god of government. Real LEOs, and they are few and far between, don't care if you disclose, because law abiding citizens won't kill them but criminals will. Criminals will never disclose and they will not have CCWs.

To those of you who have said that LEOs don't get carried away when confronted with an armed citizen must live in some state other than CA, because here, many of them do. Lots of LEOs think armed citizens are OK, many also do not think that way.

Have you ever worked as a LEO? Federal Agent?

Or, at a larger stretch, served in the armed forces? Parole Officer? Armored car guard? ANY job that requires being around guns on a daily basis?

Not trying to be snide, but just curious as to where you are coming from.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by calex59

One, thanks for all the replys that imply that I am an idiot, I always greatly appreciate people(usually my junior in years and experience)telling me what a dumb a** I am.

Nope, I wouldn't do that - you are doing a fine job on your own.

Originally Posted by calex59

However, the reason you never tell a LEO you are carrying, unless the county that issued your CCW requires it, is because it is none of his business. Is he going to search you? Not unless he has a warrent. Why does he need to know.

Reread your post - you said "No, you don't. Never tell a Leo you are armed unless the situation is critical and they might need your help, which is to say, never." You made NO exception for the fact that it may be requirement of the county. For all your wisdom, you could have run someone a foul of the law. I was correcting that.

[rycerz]

Originally Posted by calex59

You are going to be on your way in a few minutes, there is no reason, unless you like being hassled and possibly shot, to let the LEO know you have a permit and are packing. Why does he need to know? You are law abiding, correct? If you weren't you wouldn't have applied for a CCW, you would just carry regardless. Being a law abiding citizen you have no intention of harming said LEO, therefore, under our constitution, he has no need to know if you are packing. If he ask you then, yes, you tell him, but 99.9 percent of the time he will not ask, therefore, (unless you are required by your issuing authority to say) do not tell him, period.

In OC it is part of the package deal. You are obligated to inform a LEO during an official contact that you have a CCW when you're armed.

[CalCCW03]

Originally Posted by calex59

No, you don't. Never tell a Leo you are armed unless the situation is critical and they might need your help, which is to say, never. I was told by my instructor when I got my first CCW, don't ever volunteer the info you are armed because you will regret it when some super cop throws you to the ground and arrests you. My advice is save it for when, hopefully never, you are searched.

First of all, each issuing agency has specific requirements regarding notifying an LEO that you are armed. In Orange County it is a requirement that you notify. It may not be the case in your county. Unless you are a Subject Matter Expert on ALL CCW laws through out the state I would recommend that you refrain from making such vehement statements.

[CalCCW03]

Originally Posted by calex59

One, thanks for all the replys that imply that I am an idiot, I always greatly appreciate people(usually my junior in years and experience)telling me what a dumb a**

No one has impled anything, they are just pointing out the flaws in your statements.

I am. However, the reason you never tell a LEO you are carrying, unless the county that issued your CCW requires it, is because it is none of his business. Is he going to search you? Not unless he has a warrent. Why does he need to know.

It's common courtesy.

You are going to be on your way in a few minutes, there is no reason, unless you like being hassled and possibly shot, to let the LEO know you have a permit and are packing. Why does he need to know? You are law abiding, correct? If you weren't you wouldn't have applied for a CCW, you would just carry regardless. Being a law abiding citizen you have no intention of harming said LEO, therefore, under our constitution, he has no need to know if you are packing. If he ask you then, yes, you tell him, but 99.9 percent of the time he will not ask, therefore, (unless you are required by your issuing authority to say) do not tell him, period.

How is he supposed to know you are a law abiding citizen?

Any LEOs on these threads that take exception to this advice, and it is only advice not word of law, then I must conclude that you are control freaks who think that every law abiding citizen must bow and scrape before you and genuflect to the god of government. Real LEOs, and they are few and far between, don't care if you disclose, because law abiding citizens won't kill them but criminals will. Criminals will never disclose and they will not have CCWs.

We do not tolerate bashing of LEO's on this site. Do not do it again.

To those of you who have said that LEOs don't get carried away when confronted with an armed citizen must live in some state other than CA, because here, many of them do. Lots of LEOs think armed citizens are OK, many also do not think that way.

We do not tolerate bashing of LEO's on this site. Do not do it again.

[hbliam]

Originally Posted by calex59

One, thanks for all the replys that imply that I am an idiot, I always greatly appreciate people(usually my junior in years and experience)telling me what a dumb a** I am. However, the reason you never tell a LEO you are carrying, unless the county that issued your CCW requires it, is because it is none of his business. Is he going to search you? Not unless he has a warrent. Why does he need to know.

I don't need a warrant to legally search you. Your house yes, you no.

[Quietpi]

The threshold for an "officer safety" pat-down is very, very low. If it's a contact for an official matter, the threshold is there. No SW required.

I never ran into a CCW citizen, as a Peace Officer, to the best of my knowledge. Had I observed a weapon during an official contact, it would have made me very nervous until I knew what was going on.

AFAIK, although IANASME, OC is the only county in CA with such a requirement. Knowing that, I think I would comply with OC practice when I'm in OC, just because. BTW it took me this long to learn what an SME is...

Stood in line in a Starbucks today with a member of the local constabulary. We had some fun while waiting for our "Joe:" "Hey, buddy, don't be decaf'ing me!"

Didn't tell. Everybody's happy.